IN THE SCHOOLS; Mock Elections, Real Lessons

By MERRI ROSENBERG

Published: October 24, 2004

HE says we should pay for our own ideas and live within our budget, which is smart, and provide affordable health care for all people,'' said one supporter of Senator John Kerry's presidential candidacy.

An equally fervent supporter of President Bush's re-election countered with, ''Bush wants to increase energy efficiency and invest in new technology resources.''

What could have been an impassioned postdebate discussion among undecided voters was instead an exercise among sixth graders in Jennifer Hickey's social studies class here.

''There's more buzz about this election than four years ago,'' said Ms. Hickey, whose classroom bulletin board featured terms like Electoral College, primary, candidate, campaign and vote. ''We've been spending a lot of time on this in class. They're so passionate. It's important for them to be informed, instead of basing their opinions on others'.''

In this election season, Ms. Hickey's classroom is not unusual. Across Westchester County, social studies teachers have taken advantage of this presidential election year to link their curriculum to current events. Many area middle and high schools have organized mock elections for students who are too young to vote, conducted student voter surveys and developed classroom and homework activities related to the campaign.

In Rye High School, for example, the social studies department has asked its students to research the presidential candidates' positions on issues like foreign policy, civil rights and tax reform, write a persuasive essay on why they would choose particular candidate, take part in class debates and vote in a mock election on Nov. 1, a day before the real Election Day.

Hastings High School students also prepared an exhibit on the candidates' positions.

''The kids are excited,'' said Saskia Dolan, chairwoman of the social studies department. ''Students have been stopping in the hall to read the exhibit. Students were assigned to watch the first debate, but most of my kids have also watched part of the second and third debates and want to talk about it. The students know it'll be really close and are very much interested in what might happen.''

Maria Thompson, chairwoman of the social studies department at Pelham High School who helped organize a political forum Oct. 7 at the school, said that some of the 10th- and 11th-grade teachers had asked students to prepare responses to the presidential debates as a class exercise. Last week the high school students voted online in presidential, state and local elections as part of the Youth Leadership Initiatives Mock Election at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics.

And whether students can actually vote on Election Day doesn't seem to have dampened their enthusiasm. Among them are students like Justin Mandel, a Hastings High School senior who has worked his cellphone on behalf of Mr. Kerry, and David Clain, a junior at Pelham High School who has attended fund-raising events for the senator.

''I've been surprised by the interest,'' David said. ''After the debates, people were talking about it.'' A classmate, Olivia Peebles, said: ''There have been a lot more people watching the debates. We have discussions among ourselves.'' One student group, the Social and Political Awareness Club, grew to more than 30 participants this year, compared with about 5 last year.

At Westlake High School in Thornwood, Julianne Miata, a senior and president of the Freedom's Answer project at her school, organized an assembly to encourage students to collect voting pledges from their friends and family. Freedom's Answer is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Washington, whose goal is to increase voter turnout.

''It's something students do to feel they're participating,'' said Julianne, also a member of the Junior Statesmen of America and her school's debate club. At the kickoff assembly last month, students were asked to collect a minimum of five voter pledge cards, which were sent to the guidance office.

Ms. Hickey said: ''This is my Olympics. They came in very excited, and we're really running with it. We're immersed in the election. The convention in New York had an impact. A lot of the students watched the debates, even though they weren't required to. They've been so motivated, it's a pleasure.''

Photo: Julianne Miata with State Senator Nicholas Spano, who spoke at a Freedom's Answer assembly at Westlake High School in Thornwood. (Photo by Chris Maynard for The New York Times)